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r what it had beenthat the family was breaking up。
But Soames gave them no help； sitting with his knees crossed； talking of the Barbizon school of painters； whom he had just discovered。 These were the coming men； he said； he should not wonder if a lot of money were made over them； he had his eye on two pictures by a man called Corot； charming things； if he could get them at a reasonable price he was going to buy themthey would； he thought； fetch a big price some day。
Interested as they could not but be； neither Mrs。 Septimus Small nor Aunt Hester could entirely acquiesce in being thus put off。
It was interestingmost interestingand then Soames was so clever that they were sure he would do something with those pictures if anybody could； but what was his plan now that he had won his case； was he going to leave London at once； and live in the country； or what was he going to do？
Soames answered that he did not know； he thought they should be moving soon。 He rose and kissed his aunts。
No sooner had Aunt Juley received this emblem of departure than a change came over her； as though she were being visited by dreadful courage； every little roll of flesh on her face seemed trying to escape from an invisible； confining mask。
She rose to the full extent of her more than medium height； and said： 〃It has been on my mind a long time； dear； and if nobody else will tell you； I have made up my mind that。。。。〃
Aunt Hester interrupted her： 〃Mind； Julia； you do it。。。。〃 she gasped〃on your own responsibility！〃
Mrs。 Small went on as though she had not heard： 〃I think you ought to know； dear； that Mrs。 MacAnder saw Irene walking in Richmond Park with Mr。 Bosinney。〃
Aunt Hester； who had also risen； sank back in her chair； and turned her face away。 Really Juley was tooshe should not do such things when sheAunt Hester； was in the room； and； breathless with anticipation； she waited for what Soames would answer。
He had flushed the peculiar flush which always centred between his eyes； lifting his hand； and； as it were； selecting a finger； he bit a nail delicately； then； drawling it out between set lips； he said： 〃Mrs。 MacAnder is a cat！〃
Without waiting for any reply； he left the room。
When he went into Timothy's he had made up his mind what course to pursue on getting home。 He would go up to Irene and say：
〃Well； I've won my case； and there's an end of it！ I don't want to be hard on Bosinney； I'll see if we can't come to some arrangement； he shan't be pressed。 And now let's turn over a new leaf！ We'll let the house； and get out of these fogs。 We'll go down to Robin Hill at once。 II never meant to be rough with you！ Let's shake handsand〃 Perhaps she would let him kiss her； and forget！
When he came out of Timothy's his intentions were no longer so simple。 The smouldering jealousy and suspicion of months blazed up within him。 He would put an end to that sort of thing once and for all； he would not have her drag his name in the dirt！ If she could not or would not love him； as was her duty and his rightshe should not play him tricks with anyone else！ He would tax her with it； threaten to divorce her！ That would make her behave； she would never face that。 Butbutwhat if she did？ He was staggered； this had not occurred to him。
What if she did？ What if she made him a confession？ How would he stand then？ He would have to bring a divorce！
A divorce！ Thus close； the word was paralyzing； so utterly at variance with all the principles that had hitherto guided his life。 Its lack of compromise appalled him； he feltlike the captain of a ship； going to the side of his vessel； and； with his own hands throwing over the most precious of his bales。 This jettisoning of his property with his own hand seemed uncanny to Soames。 It would injure him in his profession： He would have to get rid of the house at Robin Hill； on which he had spent so much money； so much anticipationand at a sacrifice。 And she！ She would no longer belong to him； not even in name！ She would pass out of his life； and hehe should never see her again！
He traversed in the cab the length of a street without getting beyond the thought that he should never see her again！
But perhaps there was nothing to confess； even now very likely there was nothing to confess。 Was it wise to push things so far？ Was it wise to put himself into a position where he might have to eat his words？ The result of this case would ruin Bosinney； a ruined man was desperate； butwhat could he do？ He might go abroad； ruined men always went abroad。 What could they doif indeed it was 'they'without money？ It would be better to wait and see how things turned out。 If necessary； he could have her watched。 The agony of his jealousy （for all the world like the crisis of an aching tooth） came on again； and he almost cried out。 But he must decide； fix on some course of action before he got home。 When the cab drew up at the door； he had decided nothing。
He entered； pale； his hands moist with perspiration； dreading to meet her； burning to meet her； ignorant of what he was to say or do。
The maid Bilson was in the hall； and in answer to his question： 〃Where is your mistress？〃 told him that Mrs。 Forsyte had left the house about noon； taking with her a trunk and bag。
Snatching the sleeve of his fur coat away from her grasp； he confronted her：
〃What？〃 he exclaimed； 〃what's that you said？〃 Suddenly recollecting that he must not betray emotion； he added： 〃What message did she leave？〃 and noticed with secret terror the startled look of the maid's eyes。
〃Mrs。 Forsyte left no message； sir。〃
〃No message； very well； thank you； that will do。 I shall be dining out。〃
The maid went downstairs； leaving him still in his fur coat； idly turning over the visiting cards in the porcelain bowl that stood on the carved oak rug chest in the hall。
Mr。 and Mrs。 Bareham Culcher。 Mrs。 Septimus Small。 Mrs。 Baynes。 Mr。 Solomon Thornworthy。 Lady Bellis。 Miss Hermione Bellis。 Miss Winifred Bellis。 Miss Ella Bellis。
Who the devil were all these people？ He seemed to have forgotten all familiar things。 The words 'no messagea trunk； and a bag；' played a hide…and…seek in his brain。 It was incredible that she had left no message； and； still in his fur coat； he ran upstairs two steps at a time； as a young married man when he comes home will run up to his wife's room。
Everything was dainty； fresh； sweet…smelling； everything in perfect order。 On the great bed with its lilac silk quilt； was the bag she had made and embroidered with her own hands to hold her sleeping things； her slippers ready at the foot； the sheets even turned over at the head as though expecting her。
On the table stood the silver…mounted brushes and bottles from her dressing bag； his own present。 There must； then； be some mistake。 What bag had she taken？ He went to the bell to summon Bilson； but remembered in time that he must assume knowledge of where Irene had gone； take it all as a matter of course； and grope out the meaning for himself。
He locked the doors； and tried to think； but felt his brain going round； and suddenly tears forced themselves into his eyes。
Hurriedly pulling off his coat； he looked at himself in the mirror。
He was too pale； a greyish tinge all over his face； he poured out water； and began feverishly washing。
Her silver…mounted brushes smelt faintly of the perfumed lotion she used for her hair； and at this scent the burning sickness of his jealousy seized him again。
Struggling into his fur； he ran downstairs and out into the street。
He had not lost all command of himself； however； and as he went down Sloane Street he framed a story for use； in case he should not find her at Bosinney's。 But if he should？ His power of decision again failed； he reached the house without knowing what he should do if he did find her there。
It was after office hours； and the street door was closed； the woman who opened it could not say whether Mr。 Bosinney were in or no； she had not seen him that day； not for two or three days； she did not attend to him now； nobody attended to him； he。。。。
Soames interrupted her； he would go up and see for himself。 He went up with a dogged； white face。
The top floor was unlighted； the door closed； no one answered his ringing； he could hear no sound。 He was obliged to descend； shivering under his fur； a chill at his heart。 Hailing a cab； he told the man to drive to Park Lane。
On the way he tried to recollect when he had last given her a cheque； she could not have more than three or four pounds； but there were her jewels； and with exquisite torture he remembered how much money she could raise on these； enough to take them abroad； enough for them to live on for months！ He tried to calculate； the cab stopped； and he got out with the calculation unmade。
The butler asked whether Mrs。 Soames was in the cab； the master had told him they were both expected to dinner。
Soames answered： 〃No。 Mrs。 Forsyte has a cold。〃
The butler was sorry。
Soames thought he was looking at him inquisitively； and remembering that he was not in dress clothes； asked： 〃Anybody here to dinner； Warmson？〃
〃Nobody but Mr。 and Mrs。 Dartie； sir。〃
Again it seemed to Soa